15 Chapter 15

Nobility, the grand elite!
They are the best at using others to do their dirty work. Sure enough, every time, he is the one cast as the villain.

Xu You sighed inwardly and stepped forward. “Teacher, we need to speed up. The group photo hasn’t been taken yet.”

“I know, I know. Just one last shot,” the photographer waved him off, then directed Chi Xun to pose, clicking the shutter several times.

Finally, he reluctantly said, “Everyone, come up here. Time for the group photo.”

No sooner had he spoken than Xie Shisheng strode forward.

Seeing his quickened pace, Xu You became even more certain of his suspicion—he knew this young master had long since grown impatient!

After the six of them gathered, the props were brought up: an irregularly shaped double sofa.

Xie Shisheng took his usual seat on one side, while Si Heng sat on the right. Lin Zhouyi was arranged to sit on the sofa armrest, matching Ze Fei’er’s position.

Song Yichu and Song Yao’an stood behind the sofa, holding onto the backrest.

Chi Xun waited quietly in the corner, idly playing with a loose thread on his clothes to pass the time.

Just then, a hesitant voice was heard.

“Do you… want to stand in front of me?”

Chi Xun looked up to see Lin Zhouyi shifting back slightly, pointing to the empty space ahead. “Here.”

She thought about it and began to walk over, but halfway there, someone grabbed her arm.

Looking up, two identical boys both looked at her, leaving a gap about her width between them.

“Stand between us, it’ll look more balanced,” Song Yao’an said with a smile.

Chi Xun hesitated.

But the photographer didn’t wait for her decision—he scooped her up like a chick and placed her back at the front. “You little shorty, don’t hide in the back. Go sit between Xie Shisheng and Si Heng.”

A light push to her back sent her legs bumping into Xie Shisheng’s knees.

To be precise, one leg hit his knee while the other brushed against Si Heng’s. She nearly lost her balance, her wide-open eyes locking with Xie Shisheng’s.

He immediately reached out an arm to steady her.

Fortunately, Chi Xun only wobbled for a moment before steadying herself. Xie Shisheng withdrew his arm with a cold expression. “Do you think there’s room for one more person between the two of us?”

Despite the sarcasm, seeing Chi Xun’s awkwardness, he frowned and prepared to stand up.

But Si Heng was quicker.

He stood, shifted closer to Ze Fei’er’s position, then sat down again, leaving just enough space—half a fist’s width—for someone to squeeze in.

Sure enough, Chi Xun immediately shot Si Heng a grateful glance, whispering, “Thanks, captain.”

“…”

Xie Shisheng looked as if he’d swallowed a fly.

Seeing the young master’s darkening face and Chi Xun still preparing to sit, Xu You finally snapped out of it and hurried over to the photographer’s ear. “That’s Chi Xun. You put him in the center; how could the others agree? Even if they do, the fans won’t. Mark my words, once the group photo is posted, the official account will be flooded with ten thousand complaints by tomorrow.”

The photographer rolled his eyes and snapped, “I don’t care. The most beautiful kid belongs in the center. Those without taste don’t know what they’re talking about!”

Xu You could only plead softly, “Brother, we’re all just workers here. Let’s not make things difficult for each other.”

“Fine,” the photographer hesitated but relented. “We’ll move to another location later. I’ll think about how to shoot then. For now, this is how it is. Stop nitpicking.”

Hearing this, Xu You felt much relieved.

He gave Xie Shisheng a thumbs-up from afar.

But perhaps due to the distance or a misperception, he felt that the mischievous young master was still glaring at him.

…

With Xie Shisheng’s reluctant shift, a spot finally opened up between him and Si Heng.

On one side was the clearly displeased Xie Shisheng; on the other, the silent Si Heng. Chi Xun felt like a cannon fodder shoved into a BL drama’s main love line—just showing her face would earn her a scolding.

The photographer’s gaze was sharp and unwavering, clearly signaling no shooting would commence until everyone sat properly.

Chi Xun had no choice but to grit her teeth and sit down.

Her legs were almost pressed tightly between the others’; she could hear the fabric of their pants rubbing. Once seated, their shoulders inevitably touched.

The Alpha’s body heat was truly overwhelming.

Even the seemingly cold Si Heng was no exception. She felt the warmth radiating from both thighs’ outer sides, her back leaning against the sofa unable to dissipate heat, her whole body gradually warming up.

“Three, two, one!”

The photographer quickly looked up, scrutinizing the group of seven. “Why are you all sitting so stiff? Did you just meet today?”

“Again, relax.”

He gestured, “Lean in a bit more around Chi Xun.”

Seeing the others cooperate, Xie Shisheng begrudgingly edged a little closer.

The shutter clicked again.

They took shots from low angles, side angles, and straight on.

As time wore on, Xie Shisheng grew more impatient. His gaze lowered, noticing Chi Xun still diligently cooperating with every request from the photographer.

He tugged at his lips, thinking this kid was far too obedient.

But despite the close proximity, he didn’t catch the familiar scent of green grapes this time.

From his tousled golden-brown hair downwards, he noticed something new on Chi Xun’s neck.

Earlier, from afar, he had thought it was some lace tie.

But it was actually a black leather collar snug around Chi Xun’s slender neck, perfectly covering the gland area.

At first glance, it resembled the kind of collar an Omega would wear during their special periods to block out uncontrollable pheromones.

Yet seeing Chi Xun wear it now felt perfectly natural—as if he really was an Omega desperately needing to be marked, and once the collar was removed, the scent of green grapes would immediately spill forth.

The longer Xie Shisheng stared, the more a strange agitation stirred within him.

…Could it be because he hadn’t taken his suppressant medicine on time today?

Or was it that Chi Xun’s pheromones affected him?

“Look at the camera, don’t get distracted!” the photographer’s voice broke through.

Song Yichu glanced sideways with a knowing look, catching his brother and Xie Shisheng simultaneously averting their gazes from the back of Chi Xun’s neck.

The shoot lasted nearly three hours.

The venue changed from a pure white backdrop to a small stage. The seven of them each took photos with their favorite instruments as props: Xie Shisheng with his bass, Song Yichu and Song Yao’an as violin and viola duo, Ze Fei’er and Lin Zhouyi with saxophone and harmonica.

There was no organ on site, so Si Heng reluctantly used the piano to complete his shots.

As for Chi Xun, who had never learned an instrument, she held the microphone.

Fortunately, the positions were spread out this time, and she was no longer in the center, which eased Xu You’s worries.

The shoot ended at two in the afternoon.

The company arranged a lounge for them—a makeup room converted into a rest area, furnished with two sofas suitable for lying down, a fridge, and snacks.

The only drawback was the absence of a restroom.

Though she quickly removed her makeup and changed back into her previous clothes, Chi Xun felt her eyes ache and burn. She planned to wash her face at the sink, following the signs to the restroom, but froze at the entrance.

The restroom wasn’t a private dormitory stall but a public one with four cubicles.

Two on the left were marked Male Alpha and Male Omega; two on the right labeled Female Alpha and Female Omega. Betas without aggressive traits could use any room matching their gender.

Chi Xun wanted to go to the right side.

But she couldn’t.

She had to shuffle over to the far left, into the Male Alpha stall, eyes fixed on her nose as she moved, afraid of seeing anything she shouldn’t.

When Chi Xun finally reached the sink, a familiar figure was there.

Dressed in black, black-haired, with sharp, cold features.

Their eyes met briefly in the mirror, and Chi Xun felt she should greet him, racking her brain for an opening line.

“What a coincidence, captain, you’re here to use the restroom too?”

A brief silence.

“I’m here to wash my hands.”

“Oh.”

Chi Xun gave a dry reply, unsure how to continue, then moved to the basin beside him and cupped water to wash her face.

Si Heng noticed her stiff posture and lowered head, realizing the mirror in front of her was angled toward the last urinal, where someone stood with their back to them.

That person finished and raised their head just slightly—Chi Xun.

At the same moment, a cubicle door was pushed open and someone stumbled out, tossing a used syringe into the trash before hurrying away behind them.

Si Heng pinched his nose, brow furrowing, but saw Chi Xun continue washing her face as usual.

With no footsteps heard, Chi Xun assumed the person had left. After rinsing, she reached for paper towels but found a few pressed into her hand, followed by a cold question.

“Did you smell anything?”

Chi Xun hesitated, then answered, “The smell of urine?”

“Something else.”

“I got some water up my nose just now, so I didn’t notice.” She blinked, then asked, “Did someone go into heat?”

Water dripped from his raised fingertips, some trickling down his elbow into her collar.

Seeing the dark wet patch on his chest, Si Heng averted his gaze.

“Go back.”

He turned away, and Chi Xun clenched the paper towels in frustration.

She vowed never to greet the captain again—this man had taken advantage of her guardless moment washing her face to test her.

Thankfully, she caught a glimpse of the suppressant in the trash and realized Si Heng wasn’t making small talk.

…

Back in the lounge.

With Song Yao’an and Song Yichu absent, and no one to spark conversation, Lin Zhouyi and Xie Shisheng each leaned back on separate sofas, resting quietly.

Though it wasn’t truly quiet.

Xie Shisheng seemed restless and overheated. After lowering the air conditioning, he fetched ice water from the fridge and finished two bottles within ten minutes.

Seeing a faint icy mist mixed with a trace of liquor in his gaze, Lin Zhouyi opened his eyes to find Xie Shisheng already opening a third bottle.

Lin Zhouyi wrapped himself tighter in the blanket and softly asked, “Are you feeling unwell?”

“A bit hot,” Xie Shisheng tugged at his collar. “It’s so stuffy here. Don’t you feel hot?”

Lin Zhouyi replied, “If you’re hot, just drink some mint water.”

Xie Shisheng scoffed, “Mint water? What good would that do?”

Lin Zhouyi pursed his lips, choosing not to explain further.

Only he felt that drinking mint water wrapped everything in his vision with a cool, refreshing veil—especially effective outdoors in summer without air conditioning.

Silence fell again.

Soon, the door opened.

Two people entered, one after the other. Lin Zhouyi didn’t turn his head, but his pupils trembled.

The scents of purple, lavender, green grapes, sweet milk, and a hint of his own grapefruit fragrance mingled.

Xie Shisheng frowned and asked, “Why did you two come back together?”